Machine for casting curved stereotype plates



C. E. HO PKFNS. MACHINE FOR CASTING CURVED. STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, m1. RENEWED MAR. 21. 1922.

Patented 0st. 31

6 SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. E. HOPKINS MACHINE FOR CASTING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1917. RENEWED MAR. 21, 1922.

Patented Oct. 3L 1922 '6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. E. HOPKINS; MACHINE FOR CASTING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1912. RENEWED MAR. 21, 1922.

1,433,55Q Patented (M31, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- C. E. HOPKINS. MACHINE FOR CASTING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLICATION man rza..14.. 1911. RENEWED MAR. 2|, 1922. 1,33,55@, Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

6'SHEETSSHEEI 4.

C. E. HOPKINS. MACHINE FOR CASTING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLICATION FILED FEB.14.1917. RENEWED MAR. 21, 1922.

Patnted Oct. 31,1922,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6' 9v Malay:

Patented 0st. 31, 1922.

'15 TATE'S PA enemas 1E. enema QFPLAIN JELD, w JERSEY- .necnrnn son QAfsrme ocavnn szrnnnorvrn PLATES.

Application filed Febrnary 14, 1917, Serial No. 148,523. Renewed March 21, 1922. Serial No. 545,567.

T0 cZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, Crnrnnns E. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at llainfield, in the county of Unionand State of New Jersey,"have invented a new and useful Machine for Casting Curved Stereospecification.

' This invention relates to a machine for casting curved stereotype plates, for use on the cylinders of rotary web printing presses. 1t 1' lesigned on simplified lines, and the principal features of the invention are:

' Means on the back, independent ,of the matrix clamps, for positioning a flexible matrix said means provided with a single operating moans; means by which the movable core is supported .on a single rail or track; and n ieans for guiding the core so that it turns from a horizontal to a vertical position; means for holding the core down whenthe sterotype plate'sis being freed from its periphery; means on the back for supporting and iiositioning the bottom ring; means on theback for supporting and ,positioning the core; and a supporting and guid ingbracket for the core. r

Fin'ther objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to "be had to the acco ing drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the core in the horizontal position, and a stereotype plate above and supported by plate lifters in alignment with plate guide ways on the finishin mechanism;

l ig. 2 is a p an view of the machine with th core in the vertical castingposition, a portion of the gearing is broken away to better illustrate;

*Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. looking toward the casting back, or rear;

Fig. 4!; .is a longitudinal section on line 1 of Fig. 2, the core being shown tilted at an angle away from the casting'back with astereotype plate cast upon its periphy;

Fig. dis a siniilarsec'tion on enlarged scale showing the mold closed *Fig. 6 is a cross section 1 on the line 1 66 of Fig. 2 witn the core incasting position within the backs concavity;

fl ig. T is a side view of the core supporting type Plates, ,of which the following is frames 11 and 12.

and guiding bracket, and the mechanism for moving the matrix clamping and core locklng m ns;

F 8' is across section of the mold in casting position; i

Fig. .9 is a similar view with the matrix clamping and core locking means moved into i unlocked position 'l. g. 10 is a cross section taken on line 1()- 10,of Fig. 2, looking toward the finishing mechanism; i'

Fig. 11 isa crosssection on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2 with the parts in the position in which the riser is starting to descend;

Fig. 12 is front end view looking toward the casting mechanism, vpart of the gearing being broken away to better illustrate;

saw bracket can be moved toward or away from the axis of the knife shaft, and Fig. 14 is a plan view of Fig. 13.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine having a vertically disposed concave back 10, supported between side Fixed along each side of the "back 10 are vertical locking strips 13. These locking strips are formed with logking recesses 1e parallel and facing the straight sides of the concavity of the hack;

see Figs. 4 and 8. "Between the locking recess 1.1 and the edge of the back is located a bolster packing strip 1.5. This packing strip is formed with a tongue 16 which is positioned in a slot formed in the underside of the locking strip 13, and "holds the packing strip-in position. The packingstrip isbeveled off at the back or outer edge so that it canpi-vot away from the backs concavity.

Each locking strip 13 has formed on it three angular projections 17, upon which are slidingly attached natrix positioning slides 18 on each edge of the back. The slides 18 are operated by rockarms 19, fast on vertical shafts 20, which are located in bearings formed on the locking strip Each of the vertical shafts QO'has a rock lever 21 fast on its bottom end, the free ends of which levers engage in a bearing formed in vertically disposed rock levers and 23, which are 'madefast on the ends of a cross shaft 2 located in hearings in the side frames 11 and 12. A handle is formed on thefree end of rock lever23 for operating thls slide mechanism to .rnove the said matrix positioning slides toward or away from the I backs concavity simultaneously. .(See Figs. 3, 6, 8 and 9.)

A casting chamber bottom closing and core supporting segmental ring or end member 25, is located at the bottom and within the concavity of the back 10. This ring 25 is supported by pivots 26, 26, operative in bearings formed in the bottom ends of the locking strips 13. The ring is normally held out of engagement with a supporting ledge 27 formed on the bottom of the backs concavity by a spring rod 28, operating through a cross brace 29. The ring 25' is pushed down against the action of its spring rod 28 by the core, when it is in casting position, so

that ledge 30, formed about its periphery, engages on top of the ledge 27 on the back, thus forming a means for supporting the core in casting position. The aforesaid ledge 27 on the back also serves as a positioning means for the bottom edge of a flexible matrix M when positioned in the back.

(See Fig. 5.) i v y A convex casting core 40 is positioned directly in front of the concavity of the back 10, and is. arranged so that its convex face can be moved from a horizontal position (shown in Fig. 1) to a vertical position within the concavity of the back, as shown in Fig. 2.

The core 40 is mounted on and fast to a core operating carriage 41, the supporting wheel 42 of which operates on top of a track 43, formed upon a track bracket 44, which is located in front of the backs concavity, and supported by two cross braces 45 and 46 fast in the side frames 11 and 12.

The core carriage 41 is formed with a longitudinal slot or guideway 47. Near the center of this guideway is the core supporting wheel 42, fast on a short cross shaft 48, which operates in bearings formed in the side walls of the core carriage and protrudes beyond its outside faces and acts as a guideway and holding means as hereafter described.

The core 40 is caused to rock simultaneously with the movements of the core carriage wheel along thetrack, by connecting rods 49-49, one end of each of which rods is pivoted on a stud. These studs are fast in bearings 5050, formed on the lower end of the core carriage 41. The opposite ends of the rod are pivoted on a short cross shaft 51, fast on the advance end of the track bracket 44. c

The core is held in position on the track by faces of extensions 5252, formed on the guideway 47 of the core carriage, engaging each side of the track bracket 44,

and'the ends of the core wheel shaft 48, en-' tering guideways 5353, formed in the contiguous faces of brackets 54, fast at each side of the track bracket.

The core is moved toward the back by the operator lifting up on the core handle 55, and at the same time it is turned by the connecting rods 49, until the bottom of the core enters the bottom ring 25, and becomes seated on a ledge 31 thereof. Simultaneously with the seating of the core on the bottom ring ledge 31 the ends of the connecting rods 49 engage on top of adjustable positioning stops 56*56, located in the cross brace 46. In this position the core is at an angle away from the back of about 10% and the core carriage wheel 42, near the end of the track 43. From this position the core is pivoted upon the studs of. the connecting rods 49,

to a vertical position, during which operation the core carriage wheel is swung free from the tracks. During this pivotal movement the bottom ring 25 is pressed down against the action of its spring rod 28, until it becomes seated upon the ledge 27 formed within the backs concavity. The top end of the core is prevented from turning too far by a bar stop 57, fast on and extending across the flat side of the core, near its top, engaging against the bolster packing strips 1515, on the straight sides of theback. During the entire turning operation the core carriage guideways hold the core in alignment and guide it into. the vertical casting position. In this position it is locked byv matrix clamping and locking strips 60-60, slidingly operative on studs 61 made fast in the flat side face of the core 40. See Figs. 2, 6 and 8.

Each locking strip 60 is caused to move in or outbeyond the cores periphery by rock, links 62-62, one end of each being pivoted to the locking strips and. the opposite ends to slide connecting rods63-63, which operate in slide ways 64, aligned alongside the core operating carriage 41.

The two -,sliding connecting rods 6363 are connected by a cross tie 65, extending through a bearing formed in a rock lever 66. This rock lever 66 is pivoted on a stud 66 located across and near the upper end of the core operating carriage 41.

By thus joining the sliding connecting rods 6363 they will act in unison with the rocking of the-rock lever 66 and through the links 62 will push out the matrix clamping and core locking strips 60, beyond the periphery of the core, until the projections 67 thereon enter the recesses 14, formed in the locking strips 13, and lock the core within the backs concavity. See Fig. 8.

In operatingthe casting mechanism the core is placed in a horizontal position. The

matrix positioning slides 18 moved in so their advance ends are within the side edges of the backs concavity. The operator then forces a flexible matrix M into the backs concavity, above the slides, so that its vertical side edges will pass inside of them, and

then pushes it down the back and behind the slides until its bottom edge engages the top of the ledge 27, at the bottom of the back. The matrix is now in proper position for casting, but to prevent meta-l passing behind the matrix a segmental pouring sheet 68 is provided, and positioned so that its bottom overlaps the top curved margin of the ma trix, and extends upward to the top of the back and is provided with supporting means consisting of projections '69 which engage over the top edge of the back. The segmental pouringsheet is more or less flexible and in length equal to the matrix.

Having positioned "both the matrix and pouring sheet the operator rolls the core from its horizontal position into a vertical position within the back, thereby forming a curved casting chamber in which the matrix and pouring sheet are positioned. The operator now closes the vertical side walls of the chamber by moving the rock lever 66 down, which action causes the combined matrix clamping and core locking strips 60 to push out over the straight edges of the core and engage With their coacting members on the :back, and lock the core and back in casting position, at the same time clamping the raised side bolsters otthe matrix.

During the advance movement ofthe looking strips their advance edges engage the advance edges of the positioning slides and force them back and out along their inclined planes suiiioient to allow the locking projections to pass under. (See Figs. 8 and 9.)

"The operator now fills the casting chamher with molten stereotype metal, either by means of a pump or ladle. After allowing sufficient time for the metal to solidify he proceeds to remove the cast from the cham- "her by unlocking ,the core from the back and releasing the side bolsters of the matrix and drawing the locking and matrix clamping strips back. The operator now takes hold of the core operating handle and rocks the core and stereotype plate cast thereon forward until the core carriage wheel brings up on top of the core track as, during which operation the pivoted bolster packing strip 15 on the back pivots away from the straight sides of the back su'l'licient'ly to draw the slight projection 71 back and allow the matrix M to pass by along with the stereotype plate, which .iscarried the core.

Continuing the delivery operation the core begins to pivot on its carriage wheel, which advances along the core track, during which the straight side edges of the stereotype plate come into engagement with the top edges Oa na lifters vane. These are pivoted on the cross brace a5 and come down on a cross rod 7'3 fast through the track fbraoket. Owing'to the plate litters pivotal movement being eccentric with respect LO the movement of the core they force the stereotype plate P free, and as the core rolls and advances, elevate it above the cores periphery and align it with guideways of the finishing mechanism. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

Just previous to the straight edges ofithe ,stereoty m plate engaging with the plate litters the extending ends of the core carriage wheel axle pass into the guideways 53--58 formed in the guide brackets 5a, and hold the core down against the lifting action of theplate lifters. The plate lifters are supported in an engaging position by the cross rod'l3.

hitter delivering the stereotype plate in the horizontal position, the operator removes plate by a recess '76, made across the apex of the core. See Fig. a. This ledge p engages against an adjustable stop .77, When the plate is shoved into the finishing mechanism and positions the plate longitudinally therein.

he co-acting finishing mechanism for truing out the interior surface of a series of ribs cast beneath the type portion and separating the riser from :the said type portion of the stereotype plate, is located in front of the casting mechanism. The stereotype plate finishing and supporting arch 81, mounted between the side frames 11 and 12, and in alignment with the stereotype plate guideways 80 and 80, previously referred ,to. The finishing arch 81 is of a curvature equal to that of the stereotype plate and is raised on the front side a little above the axis of a plate when delivered from the casting mechanism.

The plate is raised on the front side until firmly positioned against the concavity of the arch by a plate elevator. The opposite side of the plate is supported by a bar 88, fast to the side edge of the arch. and in alignment with the guideway 80. The plate elevator comprises a plate supporting bar 89, which is aligned with the ,q uideway80 when in the lowered position. This supporting bar 89 is :tast to pair of brackets 9090 which are on vertically disposed rods 91-91. These rods operate in brackets 9292, fast to the front side frame 11, and in bearings9393, formed in the extending foot of the finishing arch. T he bottom end of each rod 91 is provided with an antitriction roller 94:, which operates on eccentric gear 100, fast on knife revolves in its concavity.

face cams 95 made fast on a rock shaft 96 located in brackets 9797, fast on the front side frame 11. To the rear end of this rock shaft is fixed "an operating lever 98, for raising theelevator to clamp a stereotype plate against the concave face of the arch, while the finishing tools, consisting of a shaving knife and a planetary operation saw, shave and trim the aforesaid stereotype plate. 1 i

i The s'havingoperation is accomplished by a knife 82 fast on ahollow knife shaft 83, which is axially aligned with the finishing arch 81 and. supported in bearings 8 1 and 86, formed oncross frames85 and 87. This knife shaft is driven through one revolution during each cycle of operations by a chain of reducing gears comprising a large I thekn'ife shaft near the forward bearing 86. 1 The gear 100 is driven by a pinion gear 101, fast on the rear end of a short shaft 102, locatet in a bearing in the front cross frame 87. In front of this bearing, and on the short shaft 102, is fast a large gear 10 1 which is driven. by a pinion 105 fast on the driving shaft 106. The gears10 1 and 105 are protected by a gearcover 107, in which are bearings for their shafts, and is made fast to the end frame 87.

Thetrimming mechanism for separating the riser and bevelingthat edge of the plate is mounted on the knife shaft gear 100, and revolves with the knife shaft but around the periphery of a stereotype plate, whereas the (See Figs. 2,10, 11 and 12.) This mechanism comprises a planetary operating cutter or saw 110 fast to the rear end of a saw spindle 111. This operates in bearings formed in a segmental saw bracket 112, which is bolted to the rear side of the shaving knife gear 100. The forward end of the saw spindle 111 passes through an elongated opening in thebody of the gear 100. (See Figs; 12 and 13.)

The trimming saw 110 is driven at a high rate of speed by a chain of gears consisting of a small pinion 113 fast on the forward end of the saw spindle which meshes with a pinion 11 1 mounted on a stud fast in the face of the shaving knife gear 100. T]. is pinion 11 1 is driven by a larger gear 115, mounted loosely on the knife shaft between its gear 100 and its forward bearing 86.

- This. gear 115 is driven by a large gear 116 fast on the rear end of the driving shaft 106. In operation the saw is driven at a high rate of speed and simultaneously revolved about the periphery of the riser portion of a stereotype plat-e, locked within the finish ing arch. During this operation the saw separates the riser from the type portion of the plate and the shaving knife trues off frame 11. By swingin .tion in front of the trip arm 135.

1.4sa,55o

the ribs cast beneaththe type face portion. As the saw is revolving over and cutting off the riser from the type portion of the stereotype plate a riser support 120, fast on the knife beneath the riser, revolves up under the riser and holds it up. Andat the same time the concave saw bracket 112 is passing over the outside of the riser. At the rear, end of the concave saw bracket 112 is a pivoted door 122, the loose end of which engages on and is drawn over the face of the riser until the sawhas completed its separating operation, whereupon the riser begins to travel; along with its support 120. As the revolution continues the riser is carried down and has a tendency to slide ahead on its support, but is instantlv checked by wedging between the pivoted. door 122 and the riser support 120. But on the doors pivot passing the horizontal line it is overbalanced, and theriser and sawdust held in the concavity of tie saw bracket fall away from the mechanism. I

The finishing tools and (Jo-acting, movable parts are driven by a belt 130, alternating between a tight and loose pulley 131 and 132, which are mounted on the forward end of the driving shaft 106. The shifting of the driving belt is accomplished byan automatic belt shifter 133, which is controlled by ahand operated trip. The belt shifter. 133 is fast to the bottom end of a vertical pivot shaft located in a bracket 13 1. To the top end of this pivot shaft, and above the bracket bearing, is fast, a trip arm 135, vmich is engaged by a right angular extension 136, of a trip rod 137, axially located in the'hollow of the shaving knife shaft 83, and slidingly operative in bearings formed in each end of the hollow knife shaft.

. The rear end of the trip'rod 137 is provided with a grooved collar 138, in which are positioned projections on a pivoted yoke 139, made fast on a cross rock shaft 1 10, operative in bearings in the side frames 11 and 12. Anoperating lever ltl-is fast on the rock shaft 1&0. near its bearing in side (I the operating lever 1 11 to the rear the right angular extension 136 of the trip rod 137 is drawn back from in front of the trip arm 135 ofthe belt shifter which action allows the belt shifter to be drawn in by a spring 1412, and move the belt from the loose pulley 131 to the right or operative pulley 132. This action'starts the mechanism through its cycle of operations, and as it nears the end of the cycle the trip rod angular extension 136, which has been pushed forward by a spring 113, mounted on the. rod 137, located in the hollow of the knife shaft, is revolved into posi- Asthe revolving movement continues the right angular extension 136 engages and forces the belt shifter to move the belt back to the loose pulley, against the action of the belt shifter spring 142. 1

Simultaneously with the return of the belt to' the loose pulley, a brake shoe in attached to a short arm 145 formed on the belt shifter 133, drawn into engagement with the face or the tight pulley and instantly stops the operations.

To prevent the accidental starting of the finishing mechanism before the plate is elevated into operative position there is provided a stop 1&6 formed on the lower end of the starting lever 141, which engages against a cam plate 147 formed on the hub of the plate elevator operating lever 98. On elevating the plate lifter this cam plate turns out of theway and allows the stop 146 on the starting lever to pass. (See Figs 1, 2 and 10.) i i After the stereotype plate has been finished by being shaved and trimmed, the operator lowers the elevatorand draws the finished stereotype plate back and out of thearch onto the guideways and 80 and removes it by hand. 1

No claim is made herein to the finishing mechanism by itself, as that forms thesub ject-matter of a divisional application, filed September 25, 1922, erial No. 590,274-

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, yet I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein Without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein. shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a curved stereotype plate making ma chine, a concave casting back and a convex casting core, plates located on the straight sides of the back for holding a flexible matrix in curved position against the backs concavity, and means on the core for moving the plates out of engagement when the core and back are positioned to form a curved casting chamber.

2. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a curved casting back and a convex core, having matrix clamps, independent matrix guiding means located at. each straight side of said back, and means for moving both of said guiding means into position simultaneously.

3. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a concave casting back, matrix guiding slides angnlarly disposed at each straight edge of said backs concavity, and. connections between said guides arranged to reciprocate the same simultaneously.

4. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a concave casting back, and matrixguiding means extending along each straight side of said backs concavity to guide and in front of the backs concavity, and a spring arranged to hold the ring elevated above its pivot to engage one end ofthe core for the purpose.

bI-In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination of a mold comprising two parts, one movable toward and from the other, with an end member for closing the mold, and yielding means for holding said end member toward the movable part, and means whereby when the mold is closed the end member will be moved back into its casting position by the weight of said movable part. i

7. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination of a mold comprising two parts, one movable toward and from the other, with an end member movable endwise in the mold for closing the mold and having ber at a distance from the end of the mold and within it. whereby when themoldis closed the end member will be moved out wardly back into its casting position by the movement of the movable part.

8. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a concave back, a convex concave core, a single guide rail along which said core is adapted to move, and means movable with the core for holding it in position for the purpose set forth.

9. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a stationary concave back, a single rail, a movable core operative over said single rail, and means for supporting the said core upon said rail for the purpose set forth.

10. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a vertically disposed concave back, a single guide rail centrally aligned with the backs concavity, a convex core carriage operative over the said rail, and means for turning the said carriage for the purpose set forth. i

11. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination of a mold comprising a main part and a movable part, a central guide rail,'said movable part being movable along said rail, a rod pivoted at one end at a distance from said rail and having its other end pivoted to the end of the movable part of the mold, whereby as it moves along the rail it will be turned by the rod.

12. In a stereotype plate casting machine, I

the combination of a mold comprising a stationary part and a movable part, a ra l,

a wheel movable on the rail, a carriagesupported by the wheel. and carrying said movable part, a rod connected with the end of said carriage and having the other end pivoted ina stationary position, whereby as the carriage moves toward the fixed mold member the movable part will be turned about the axis of the wheel.

i 13. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination of a stationary back and a movable core, with an end member inposition to be engaged by the end of the core and moved back to casting position, a track, a

wheel on said track for supportingsaid core, said track, wheel and end member being relatively located to each other to permit the wheel to rest on the track until the core engages the end member and then cause the wheel to be-lifted from the track as the core is turned into its final position.

"14;.IIl a curved stereotype plate making machine having a concave back supported on the carriage for moving the strips for the purpose set forth. I

7 16. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a casting back and a co-acting core, a matrix and core vlocking strip operative along the straight side ofthe core, rock links pivoted to said strip, a vconnecting rod pivoted to the rock links,guideways in which the strip operates,,and means for operating the strip for the purpose set forth.

17. In a stereotype plate casting machine, thegcombination of a casting back and coacting core, with a strip for locking the core and a matrix, said strip being located along the core, rock links pivoted to said strip for operating it, a connecting rod pivoted to the rock links, and a pivoted member adapted to move said rod to operate the rock links and locking strip.

18. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, a concave casting back, and a coacting core, a matrix and core locking strip at each straight side of the core, and (10111160? tions independent of the core for operating the said strips in unison for the purpose set forth v In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS 

